How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

Just a little humor… So how many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?  It depends…

 

Amish: What’s a light bulb?

Baptists: At least 15 – One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.

Charismatic: Only 1 – Hands are already in the air.

Episcopalians/Anglicans: 3 – One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks, and one to talk about how much better the old one was.

Lutherans: None – Lutherans don’t believe in change.

Methodists: Undetermined – Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.

Mormons: 5 – One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Nazarene: 6 – One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

Pentecostal: 10 – One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None – Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None – Candles only.

Unitarian Universalists: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Romans 9-11… Israel’s Past, Present, and Future

The Epistle to the Romans is perhaps the greatest theological treatise of all times.  It has been said that it is very nearly “a complete systematic theology.”  We see the themes of sin, salvation, redemption, justification, sanctification, and on and on, taught as only God could teach. 

Now, nestled in these 16 chapter is what many have labeled a parenthesis, an idea that doesn’t seem to be coherent.  We find this in chapters 9 through 11.  These chapters deal with Israel and at first glance, seem to be out-of-place. 

But as we study these three chapters we find the answers to the questions regarding Israel and its existence past, presence, and future.  This is important.  Most of what Paul taught in Romans deals with the church.  So this begs the question, “What about Israel?”  This is Pauls answer in a three-point outline… alliterated by the way… Past-Present-Phuture! 

Israel’s Glorious Past – Romans 9

Israel’s glorious past is laid out for us in Romans 9.  Paul has up to this point been identifying himself with the church and has been enthralled in the concept of salvation.  Chapter 8 showed eternal security.  Now, here in chapter 9 he is burdened by the state of Israel.  Yes, this is the Israel with the glorious past.  It pertained to the adoption, and the Shekinah glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises (v. 4), and the patriarchs, and the crowning jewel of Israel, “of whom Christ came” (v. 5). 

Israel’s Tragic Present – Romans 10:1 – 11:24

With all of this, Israel’s present is nothing more than tragedy upon tragedy.  The biggest issue Paul sees here is the “need” of Israel to be saved.  Paul’s brethren were lost.  From them came Christ, but they rejected Him.  They established their own self-righteousness in their zeal for God.  This same zeal for God was not in submission to God and became a zeal for self-salvation instead.  They missed the righteousness that comes from Christ and found a self-righteousness that comes from the Law.  Their eyes were focused on the tutor and not on what the tutor was teaching.

But, has God thrown Israel away? Is He through with Israel?  Is Israel now the church?  No!  There is still a remnant that are saved through grace.  The emphasis of the individual being saved is clear here.  Both Jew and Gentile need Christ.

Israel’s Glorious Future – Romans 11:25-36

So what is in store for Israel then?  Paul lets us know at the end of chapter 11 from verse 25 on.  All Israel will be saved!  Of course, this isn’t a blanket salvation for each Jew, but all the Jewish elect alive at the end of the Tribulation will be saved.  They will have a sure future.  They will be restored to the land (Ezek. 37)!  (See post on Abrahamic Covenant).  The King (Jesus) will be on the throne in the capital.  The Temple will be rebuilt (Ezek. 40-48).  The Feast of the Tabernacles will be observed every year throughout the Millennium (Zech). 

But the idea of Israel’s past, present, and phuture as presented in the Bible and in particular here in Romans 9-11 is truly one of the great themes of the Word of God.  This is so important for us to properly grasp and understand as we, of the church, run the gamut of these final days side by side with the Jew.  We need to understand how they fit into the overall scheme of things and act appropriately in trying to reach them with the good news of the Messiah.  Blessing God’s chosen people, the Israelites brings blessing upon us.  Conversely… well, you get the idea.  Act appropriately based upon the clear teaching of God’s Word!

The Bible is an Archaeological Document

To the Christian believer, the Bible stands alone.  It is the infallible, inerrant, God-breathed word of God.  It is also an archaeological document.  The manuscript evidence for the Bible shows even secular scholars that the Bible holds to a higher standard than any other ancient writing. 

The process of God’s Word getting to us is not complicated to understand, but it did occur over a large number of years so the chance of error entering in seems to be large as well.  But the amazing fact is that when archaeologists find older and older manuscripts, they show that the more recent ones are extremely accurate. 

God revealed Himself to us in Revelation.  Inspiration was the recording and writing of the Word of God.  It then passed through centuries of Transmission as it was copied.  In Translation it was put into other languages.  Canonization showed it to be authentic revelation.  Preservation protected it as it passed down from generation to generation.  Illumination by the Spirit gave us understanding.  Interpretation is the active process of determining its meaning.  Assimilation is the meditation and absorption of the Word.  And finally, Application consists of the personal adjustments made in our life as we obey God’s Word. 

Perhaps the greatest archaeological find has been that of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran when it comes to backing up the accuracy of the Bible.  Beyond this are the archaeological finds that bolster the teaching of the Bible.  Archaeological finds of the early Mesopotamians corroborate the teachings of the Genesis accounts creation and the flood.  In 1875, the Enuma Elish Mesopatamian literature studied by George Smith of the British Museum did just that.  Another account is the Atrahasis Epic of the creation on a cuneiform tablet.  This is the theological perspective of ancient Babylonia!  The Gilgamesh Epic is yet another find that backs up Genesis.  It was published in Europe in 1872 and caused quite a stir as some claimed that it proved the Genesis account of the flood.

Ancient writings back up the lives and culture of the biblical patriarchs, of King David, and King Solomon, and a myriad of other personalities and places of the Old Testament of the Bible.  Even the New Testament, once a battleground for Higher Criticism has been supported by numerous finds and thousands of manuscripts.  The attacks on the accounts of Jesus have been going on since the mid-1800’s and led to the Jesus Seminar attempting to show which parts of the Bible are genuine and which are not. 

But truth is intertwined with what happens.  In law, discovering what happened brings out the truth in a case.  So it is with archaeological finds.  They have shown, to a great extent, what went on in the early centuries A.D.   And the fact that theological truth is so mixed within the context of history has really befuddled critics.  To demythologize or deny Jesus and then to later find evidence that supports his existence and show that the Bible is indeed correct as to who Jesus was and what He did is to debunk some of the arguments that have been around for the past century and a half.  Without getting into details, the ideas of the Herodian family, the census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the Roman method or crucifixion, and Titus’ destruction of Jerusalem all fall into this category. 

Time will only continue to yield more information supporting and validating the Bible.  It is truly an archaeological document that grows in credibility among the skeptics as archaeological finds are made.

Random Thoughts on Archaeology and the Bible

One of the most amazing concepts to me relates to the presuppositions that we go into our science with.  Typical secular archaeology seems to have been tainted by Darwinianism.  This has led to supernatural presuppositions, poor biblical interpretation, and/or poor interpretation of archaeological findings. 

Of course, most findings are incredibly insightful and fascinating.  I love the Discovery Channel on cable TV.  Still, much of the field of archaeology has been spiritually hamstrung until recently as far as it’s dealings with the Word of God. 

A little over a 100 years ago, the idea that a people called the Hittites ever existed was scoffed at.  Of course, the Bible referred to this group some 47 times in the Old Testament.  Esau took a wife of the Hittites (Gen. 36:2).  Abraham wanted to be buried with his fathers in the cave that was in the field of Ephron the Hittite.  Even with key passages referring to the Hittites, they were believed to never have existed!

Now, archaeology enters the picture.  In 1876 the ruins of the Hittite capital are uncovered at Boğazköy.  They are even written about in Wikipedia!!!  Archaeology backs up the Scripture!

The purpose of archaeology is not to prove the veracity of the Bible.  The Bible stands on its own.  It is true whether archaeological finds substantiate it or not. Yet, the science of archaeology can confirm that the Bible is true.

Archaeology is limited in its fragmented nature.  Too often the facts have to be pieced together and this can take time and may or may not yield the complete story.  Still, it is a fascinating science and the world must take note when there is a Bible substantiating find.  Even King David, one of the principle figures of the Bible, had no substantiating proof of existence until 1993 when Professor Avraham Biran uncovered an inscription in the city of Dan.  Finally, we know based upon sound archaeology that this shepherd boy that became king was not fabricated.  He was a real person. 

These are the things that back up the Bible.  Time will reveal all things… and since “heaven and earth will pass away” before the Bible, it will clearly stand the test of time… and the test of archaeology.

The Abrahamic Covenant… past… present… future!

There are tools that help us see and understand the big picture when we study the Bible, and by so doing this, we better understand to smaller sub-themes.  Of course, there are doctrinal themes such as redemption or reconciliation.  Another one of the tools is to follow the thread of events that are attached to one of the covenants that God has with men in the Bible, and particularly, with the nation of Israel.  The one that will give us the best overall panorama is that of the Abrahamic Covenant, especially as it deals with Israel.  From here, we do have a better idea of how other doctrines and concepts fit into the overall picture.  To understand Israel’s role is to clearly see that it is not the church’s role.  They are different, but do overlap in a way that each can be better understood in the light of the covenant.

We have four unconditional covenants that are intertwined with the election of Israel: the Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, and Abrahamic Covenants.   In them, God acts sovereignly obligating Himself to bring to pass the promises, blessings, and conditions for the Israelites. 

This unilateral covenant is marked by God’s use of “I will” in which He declares that He will do exactly what He said He would.  It is important to note that these covenants are literal, not diminished over time, unconditional, made between God and Israel, and may have been given in one moment in time but with future fulfillment. 

The Abrahamic Covenant was obviously given to Abraham.  It can be found in Genesis 12:1-3; 12:7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-21 and 22:17-18.  We see God and Abraham involved in all six passages.  Careful study of these passages show the covenant can be broken down into three principle areas; provisions to Abraham, to Israel, and to the Gentiles.  An understanding of the covenant is best understood through these areas which can also defined as the land, the seed, and the blessing.  (Note: some would break these down into three more covenants: Palestinian Covenant (land), Davidic Covenant (seed), and the New Covenant (blessing).

This covenant has been in operation since it was given and continues to be in operation today.  Abraham had eight sons with three different women.  Yet, only through Isaac, his son with Sarah, was the covenant to be passed.  Now Isaac had two sons.  Through which did the covenant pass?  It was through Jacob.  Jacob had 12 sons.  The covenant was confirmed through all of them. 

The continuity exists today although much of the covenant remains unfulfilled.  The protection of the Israelites is one of the prime examples of the covenant.  We have to remember that in 70 A.D. the general Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Jews were scattered.  Part of the covenant had to do with them inheriting the land (Palestine).  For centuries, others have occupied the land, but the area has always been governed from afar.  Not until 1948 has a government been set up here, and it was again the Jews!  Never in the history of the human race has a conquered people stayed together and returned to take possession of the land from which it was displaced.  The Jews did showing once again that God was honoring his covenant with them. 

The final facet will take place yet in the future.  This is foretold in the Law and the Prophets.  Leviticus 26:40-45 tells of the Jews returning to the land that was once desolate.  The prophets develop this thought further.  Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel show this productivity status of Israel’s return (Isa. 27:12; 30:23-26; 35:1-2; 65:21-24; Jer. 31:1-6; 31:11-14; Ezek. 20:42-44; 28:25-26; 34:25-31; 36:8-15; 36:28-38).  The minor prophets develop this even further (Joel 2:18-27; Amos 9:13). 

There will come a time when Israel fully possesses this promised land and what was once dry and desolate will become watered and be made increasingly productive.  All of this has to do with the Abrahamic Covenant, an unconditional covenant the God fully honors.

So there you have it… the big picture, especially as it has to do with Israel.  Now, once these ideas are grasped, the pieces of the puzzle fit together nicely.  The issues that we see with some of the groups that mistakenly interchange Israel and the church or see the covenants applied to the church instead of Israel are easily dismissed. 

Part of the covenant that applies to the Gentiles is this, those that bless Israel shall be blessed or those that curse Israel shall be cursed, and that the spiritual blessing of the “Seed” of Abraham would be the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The physical promises of the Abrahamic Covenant are for Israel… the Spiritual promises are for the entire human race!!!

Get the Word out!!!

Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.”  But His word was in my heart like a burning fire. (Jer. 20:9)

Sometimes you just need to communicate, speaking, writing, or blogging!  I am starting this new blog because I feel compelled to write!  There is a incredible message within that I am compelled to get out.

It is much like Jeremiah of old who could no longer contain the Word of the God burning within him.  He had to communicate (Jer. 20:9).  That’s how it is with me, both speaking and writing.  What good is it to know the truth if that truth only stays within us.  Will it not begin to burn!  As we contemplate the world around us, as we see the intense needs on every corner, as we hear the news of hunger, murder, broken families, broken lives, and despair… can we just sit by and do nothing?  Can we not speak of the truth that sets us free?  Can we not use the technology at our grasp to multiply the saving grace of God to the masses?

I do have a “hot button” and it is with those that should know better, squandering their time.  Someone that calls themself a missionary yet lives in a “bubble” of the same culture and language that they came from does not make sense.  Sure, there may be extenuating circumstances, but that should be the exception, not the rule.  How can they do this?  Doesn’t the Word of God burn within them with such intensity that they have to communicate it in some way… in any and all ways within their means?

Sure, living on the mission field is not easy.  If someone says it is, they must be in that “bubble.”  There are things like handling passports and visas and residency.  These things can take weeks, months, or even years to finish.  Getting a bank account or a telephone line can take months.  Try finding a plumber or an electrician for example that is there when he says he will be, doesn’t try to charge more than he originally agreed, and does a good enough job that he doesn’t have to return to fix what he fixed on the first visit… if you can get him to come back, that is.  I’m not complaining.  I’m just saying that all of this is so time consuming, and yet, must be done to some degree on an almost daily basis.  Now… to the lazy… they stop with this… mundane level of survival.  To the one that has God’s Word burning in his heart, these are opportunities to share Christ… and beyond this is seeking to carry out a level of ministry that will continue on once the missionary has gone… which will inevitably happen for one reason or another.

Yes… try to keep your mouth shut.  Hold the truth within.  Don’t even consider ministering to others… Try it!  Let it burn within until you can’t hold it in anymore.  The  pressure will build… the guage will start climbing… the safety valve will blow… and hopefully, the love and truth within us will pour out and lives will be changed.

For we cannot but speak the things which ^pwe have seen and heard.”  (Acts 4:20).

With Jeremiah, a sense of dejection overwhelmed him and compelled him to seal his lips (Jer. 20:9).  He feared being a failure and the mocking of those without (10). But God’s presence was too great (11).  God’s faithfulness in his life had been too great (12).  There comes a realization that there is no other alternative than to burst out in praise and tell others of God’s awesome love and provision.

Come on people.  Wherever you may be on this small sphere called “earth” there is something you can be doing to get the good news out.  Start this very moment.  Call someone, talk to a neighbor, send an email, start a blog, leave a tract, etc.  Gather up some friends from church or do it on your own.  Whatever the case… Let’s get moving… Come on, let’s roll!!!